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Runavík goes for the big catch |
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Archives -
2006 Archive
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Written by B. Tyril
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Monday, 08 May 2006 |
Whether it’s fishing vessels, bulk freighters, container ships or cruise liners, the Port of Runavík aspires to attract large sea vessels to make use of the longest fjord and one of the leading seaports in the Faroe Islands—with tourism set to play a growing part.
With an outdoor storage area of 35,000 square meters, a total quay length of 1,700 meters and the longest fjord in the country, the Port of Runavík is not just one of the best and safest natural harbors of the Faroe Islands; it’s one of the leading seaports in terms of service capacity—and it’s eager to attract new traffic.
“We’re fully capable of providing services and solutions for all types of vessels,” said harbormaster Jákup Lamhauge. “Our capacity is not being fully utilized so we have decided to put renewed efforts into attracting more vessels, basically all types of vessels.”
In recent years, the municipality of Runavík—today comprising 13 villages and a population of 4,000 people—has invested substantially in infrastructure development including new quaysides and cargo areas. Receiving 1,500 ship calls per year while handling a throughput of more than 110,000 tons of goods, the Port of Runavík offers a wide range of services in addition to bunkering, fresh water and electricity.
With a thriving seafood industry in and around the harbor area and a host of business and consumer services, the Port is home to a vibrant business community, offering ship repairs, electrical and mechanical repairs, electronics servicing, customs clearance, warehousing, stevedoring, transport, provisioning and more. In addition, the local community of Runavík offers various services, from health care to legal to financial.
Said Mr Lamhauge: “The fishing industry is strong here and we have several vessel operators, two officially approved fish landing stations and two fish processing facilities, in addition to fish handling and cold storage facilities, plus several seafood trading companies and a fishing line manufacturer. We also have a supply base for the offshore oil and gas exploration industry, a shipping company and several mechanical workshops.”
During the past few years Runavík has undergone dramatic growth with five villages added to the municipality, expanding the range and capacity of the Port. Among the most noticeable and natural extensions of the main harbor area is the shipyard at Skála across the Skálafjörđur fjord, which offers a 116-meter long dry dock, a 1200-ton capacity slipway, a mobile crane and a well-equipped mechanical workshop.
Attracting sea anglers: Runavík is also becoming a new destination for international cruise liners, last year receiving four large passenger ships. According to Mr Lamhauge, hopes are that cruise tourism will become more present in the years ahead.
“We have had the superferry Norröna berthed several times during the winter, using the roll-on/roll-off ramp available on one of our quaysides,” he said. “During last year’s summer season, we received for the first time four international cruise liners; all berthed at the Kongshavn quay and the fact the everything worked perfectly demonstrated again that we are well able to receive large cruise ships. This could be the beginning of something that will grow in the future.”
As to tourism, Runavík has recently stepped up efforts to meet the demands of a growing number of domestic and international tourists arriving in the summertime. One of the highlights is the Smyril Line International Sea Angling Cup, a new attraction “destined to become one of the leading international sea angling competitions in Scandinavia,” according to the organizers of the event.
“We are delighted to work with Smyril Line and the other partners in this fantastic concept,” said Rannvá Troest, the municipality of Runavík’s tourist information manager. “Participants will be fishing from registered, chartered and fully insured fishing boats with experienced captains and crew. The competition is about catching big fish and there will be two grand prizes at 10,000 euros each, one for catching the single biggest fish, the other for the biggest overall catch.”
The Smyril Line International Sea Angling Cup will take place from 21 to 25 August in a specified fishing area off the Faroe Islands. According to the organizers, over 200 sea anglers were expected to sign up for the competition. Other main attractions include the Town Festival in mid June and the Salmon & Market Day in mid July. Ms Troest said: “We could also mention the Forni Museum at Glyvrar, the boat launch area in Elduvík, the Rocking Stones at Oyndarfjörđur, or some of the other gorgeous sights. Runavík is absolutely worth visiting during the summer.”
Link to pdf presentation...
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